Perennial. Capitula on long bracteate scape, heterogamous, radiate. Occuring into two distinct forms on the same plant at different seasons (spring and late summer).
Vernal form (spring): Leaves undeveloped or wanting, lanate or araneous beneath. Capitula small. Ray florets female with few staminodes, outer corolla lip enlarged; Disc florets bisexual, corolla lips equal. Cypsela elliptic, 5-8-ribbed, pubescent, tapering above or beaked. Pappus bristles finely barbellate or capillary.
Autumnal form (Late summer): Leaves large, lyrate-pinnatifid, capitula relatively large, cleistogamous. All florets tubular, of two types; outer ones female, lower lip tridentate, upper lip reduced, staminodes absent; inner florets bisexual. Cypsela similar to vernal generation but larger.